Adjustable water-spraying device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable water-spraying device for a user to clean themselves after relieving themselves includes a base, a first control valve, a second control valve and at least a water-spraying unit. The base includes a first space and a second space communicating with each other. The first control valve is set in the first space to control the water temperature, and the second control valve is set in the second space. The water-spraying unit is attached in a water outlet of the base, and extended into toilet seat unit. Thus, the second control valve determines the opening or closing water outlet to drive one of the water-spraying units to spurt water and clean the users&#39; anus.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to washing furniture in the bathroom, and more particularly to an adjustable water-spraying device mounted on a toilet seat unit.

2. Description of Related Art

For the convenience and sanitary requirements of a user, washing equipment is added next to the side of a toilet seat unit to spray water to clean the user's anus. This is a so called hidro bidet shower.

Conventional hidro bidet showers are divided into two kinds, mechanical and electronic type. In the mechanical washing equipment, the water is sprayed to clean the user's anus by conducting water to an adjutage with a conduit.

However, the mechanical washing equipment only has a cold water spraying function and the water temperature or pressure cannot be modified. Moreover, the mechanical washing equipment cannot control the spraying position in accordance with different genders such that the requirements of different users cannot be satisfied.

In the electronic washing equipment, an electrical circuit replaces the control device. A heating unit is also added to heat the water. A touch-panel microcomputer controls both the electrical circuit and the heating unit. Although the electronic washing equipment can modify water temperature, the cost thereof is very expensive and the power consumption caused by the heating unit increases. In addition, the leakage also occurs making the electronic device more difficult to sell.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object to provide an adjustable water-spraying device to enable water heating, the water pressure adjustment and the spraying position adjustment so that the requirements of different users can be satisfied.

It is therefore another object to provide an adjustable water-spraying device with a lower manufacturing cost and water temperature controllable function that also has low power consumption and no electrical leakage problem.

In accordance with the foregoing description and objectives, an adjustable water-spraying device is provided and includes different controlled valves in different spaces to respectively modify the water temperature and the flow direction. Thus, both male and female users can choose their own spraying position and desirable water temperature.

The water-spraying device is secured next to a toilet seat unit and includes a base, a first control valve, a second control valve and two water-spraying units.

The base includes a first space, a second space, a cold water hole, a hot water hole, a first outlet and a second outlet. The first space is communicated with the second space. The cold water hole and the hot water hole communicate with the first space, and the first outlet and the second outlet communicate with the second space. The first control valve is secured in the first space and includes a rotatable knob and a valve core connected with the rotatable knob to control the opening and the flow. The second control valve is secured in the second space to control the opening between the first outlet and the second outlet. The water-spraying units are respectively linked with the first outlet and the second outlet, and include a conduit and a spraying tube associated with the conduit and extended to the toilet seat unit. By controlling the first control valve and the second control valve to modify the water temperature and the flow direction, and one of the water-spraying units is driven to spray the mixed water to clean.

In accordance with another objective, an adjustable water-spraying device is provided and includes a base, at least one control valve and a water-spraying unit.

The base includes a cold water hole, a hot water hole and an outlet. The control valve includes a valve core secured on the base to control the opening and the flow between the cold water hole and the hot water hole. The water-spraying unit includes a conduit linked with the outlet and a spraying tube associated with the conduit and extended to the toilet seat unit to spray the mixed water to clean.

Therefore, the first step of the water-spraying device is to control the first control valve to modify the water temperature and the flow, and the second step is to control the second control valve to operate the desirable water-spraying unit to conform to the requirements of both male and female users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an operational, perspective view of the first embodiment of a water-spraying device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the water-spraying device in the FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a spraying tube of the water-spraying unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational, sectional view of a toilet seat unit with the water-spraying device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a second control valve of the base in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the water-spraying device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the water-spraying device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the water-spraying device of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the cross-line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates an operational, perspective view of the first embodiment of a water-spraying device. FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the water-spraying device in the FIG. 1.

The water-spraying device 100 is secured next to a toilet seat unit 200 for the user to clean and includes a base 110, a first control valve 120, a second control valve 130 and two water-spraying units 140.

In this embodiment, the base 110 is secured on a toilet seat 210 of the toilet seat unit 200. The base 110 includes a first space 111, a second space 112, a cold water hole 114, a hot water hole 115, a first outlet 116 and a second outlet 117. The first space 111 is hollow and the second space 112 is communicated with the first space 111 via a guiding path 113. The cold water hole 114 and the hot water hole 115 communicate with the first space 111 and are respectively coupled with a cold water tube A and a hot water tube B. The first outlet 116 and the second outlet 117 communicate with the second space 112.

The first control valve 120 is secured in the first space 111 and includes a rotatable knob 121, a ceramic valve core 122 and a temperature indication ring 123. The ceramic valve core 122 is connected with the knob 121 and the temperature indication ring 123 is covered on the valve core 122 and includes various temperature scales. The inner structure of the valve core 122 is similar to the ceramic valve core of the single lever mixer. By rotating the valve rod of the valve core 122 to control the flow, temperature and the opening between the cold water hole 114 and the hot water hole 115.

The second control valve 130 is secured in the second space 112 and includes a shaft 131, a pulling block 132, an upper blocking ring 133, a lower blocking ring 134 and an elastomeric unit 135. The shaft 131 is axially movable. The pulling block 132 is fastened on the shaft 131 and positioned out of the second space 112. The upper blocking ring 133 is encircled in the middle of shaft 131 and corresponds to the first outlet 116. The lower blocking ring 134 is encircled in the bottom of the shaft 131 and corresponds to the second outlet 117. The elastomeric unit 135 is a bias spring and is set on the upper blocking ring 133 and against a top wall of the second space 112. Normally, the upper blocking ring 133 encloses the first outlet 116, and there is a drop between the lower blocking ring 134 and the second outlet 117.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates a partial sectional view of a spraying tube of the water-spraying unit in FIG. 1. The water-spraying units 140 are designed with different lengths and extended from the first outlet 116 and the second outlet 117 of the base 110 to the toilet seat unit 200. The water-spraying units 140 respectively include a conduit 141 and a spraying tube 142 associated with the conduit 141. The spraying tube 142 includes an immovable section 1421, a movable section 1422, a nozzle 1423 and a spring 1424. The immovable section 1421 is connected with an end of the conduit 141 and located under the toilet seat 210. The movable section 1422 is located in the immovable section 1421 and is movable axially. The nozzle 1423 includes multiple holes and is connected with an end of the immovable section 1421. The spring 1424 is encircled on the movable section 1422 to provide resilience for the movable section 1422 after protruding elastically. Before the operation of the first control valve 120, the movable section 1422 is covered in the immovable section 1421 to prevent from dejection attachment on the spraying tube 142.

Refer to FIG. 2. The user can see the predetermined temperature of the outputted water by the temperature indication ring 123 of the base 110. Rotate the knob 121 clockwise or counter-clockwise to drive the valve rod of the valve core 122 to output water, and the cold water and the hot water are pumped into the first space 111 to mix to provide water at a desirable temperature. The mixed water is conducted to the second space 112 via the guiding path 113 and pumped to the short water-spraying unit 140 through the second outlet 117. Refer to FIG. 4. The movable section 1422 of the short water-spraying unit 140 is pushed by the water pressure to protrude outward and spray the mixed water for the user to clean. Rotate the knob 121 progressively to enlarge the opening of the valve core 122, and the water pressure is increased such that the protruding length of the movable section 1422 is relatively extended (shown as the dotted line). Refer to FIG. 5. When the pulling block 132 of the second control valve 130 is pulled upward, the shaft 131 is relatively moved upward and the first outlet 116 is opened (in this situation, the second outlet 117 is blocked by the lower blocking ring 134) to transfer the mixed water to the long water-spraying unit 140. By spraying the mixed water with the long water-spraying unit 140, it is convenient for female to clean in the menstrual period or pregnancy.

After adjusting the valve core 122 of the first control valve 120 in a closed state by rotating the knob 121, the shaft 131 of the second control valve 130 is move downward through pressing against the upper blocking ring 133 with the resilience of the elastomeric unit 135. The shaft 131 therefore returns to the position shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the movable section 1422 of the water-spraying unit 140 is retracted into the immovable section 1421 with the resilience of the spring 1424.

Refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the second embodiment of the water-spraying device. The water-spraying device of the second embodiment includes a base 150, a temperature control valve 160, a switch valve 170 and two water-spraying units. The temperature control valve 160 is secured on the first space 151 of the base 150 and the switch valve 170 is secured in the second space 152 of the base 150. The water-spraying units are respectively linked with the first outlet 155 and the second outlet 156 of the base 150.

The base 150 includes a first space 151, a second space 152, a cold water hole 153, a hot water hole 154, a first outlet 155 and a second outlet 156. The first space 151 is communicated with the second space 152. The cold water hole 153 and the hot water hole 154 communicate with the first space 151 and the first outlet 155 and the second outlet 156 communicate with the second space 152.

Compared to the second control valve 130 in the first embodiment, the temperature control valve 160 has precise temperature-regulation but without a water-restraint function. The temperature control valve 160 includes a hollow cylindrical substance 161, a cold water inlet 162, a hot water inlet 163, a water exit 164, a modified rod 165, an adjusting knob 166, a bias spring 167, a valve 168 and an adjuster 169. The cold water inlet 162, the hot water inlet 163 and the water exit 164 are defined through the wall of the substance 161 and extended to the first space 151. The modified rod 165 is located in the substance 160 pivotally. The adjusting knob 166 is connected with an end of the modified rod 165 and positioned out of the base 150. The bias spring 167 is encircled in the modified rod 165. The valve 168 corresponds to the cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 163 and is pressed against another end of the modified rod 165. The adjuster 169 is located in the bottom of the substance 161 and has an end against the valve 168. The adjuster 169 is made of a shape memory alloy and deformed with a ratio in accordance with the temperature difference between the outputted water temperature and the predetermined water temperature. Through the shape memory feature, the water temperature variation of the predetermined water temperature is lessened. The cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 163 respectively correspond to the cold water hole 153 and the hot water hole 154, and there are two filtering units respectively set in the cold water hole 153 and the hot water hole 154 to filter the impurity in the raw water.

The switch valve 170 includes a valve core 171 and a cap 172 wherein the outlet position of the valve core 171 is modified by rotating the cap 172 to control the flow and alter the flow direction. There are three water-outputted operation modes, outputted from the first outlet 155, outputted from the second outlet 156 or closed both.

The opening ratio between the cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 163 is adjusted by rotating the adjusting knob 166 to drive the modified rod 165 to move the valve 168 corresponding to the cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 163 whereby the water temperature is modified. Moreover, the opening and the flow direction are controlled by the switch valve 170 to selectively drive the long water-spraying unit or the short water-spraying unit to spray the mixed water.

To prevent the temperature of the outputted water from being higher than the predetermined temperature such that the user is hurt by the over-heated water, the adjuster 169 of the temperature control valve 160 is expanded because of the heat to produce a force against to the elasticity of the bias spring 167 and the valve 168 is moved upward. Through this method, the hot water inlet 163 is abridged and the cold water inlet 162 is broadened such that the temperature of mixed water stored in the substance 161 is dropped. Contrarily, the valve 168 is moved downward to broaden the hot water inlet 163 and abridge the cold water inlet 162 to raise the mixed water temperature when the temperature of the outputted water is lower than the predetermined temperature. Therefore, the adjuster 169 variation is gradually reduced when the outputted water temperature is close to the predetermined water temperature until the predetermined water temperature is equal to the outputted water temperature.

Refer to FIG. 7. In the third embodiment, the water-spraying device 100 is secured on the toilet seat unit 200 through a position seat 190. The position seat 190 is locked to the toilet seat 210 by at least one groove 191, and the spraying tube 142 of the water-spraying unit 140 is fastened at the bottom of the position seat 190 such that the position seat 190 is set between the toilet seat unit 200 and the toilet seat 210.

As embodied and broadly described herein, the water-spraying device of the embodiment has the following effects:

1. The water temperature and the spraying position are respectively modified in separated steps. In the first step, the temperature of the mixed water in the first space 111 is controlled via the first control valve 120 and the temperature control valve 160. In the second step, the long water-spraying unit 140 and the short water-spraying unit 140 are driven via the second control valve 130 and the switch valve 170 in accordance with the spraying request of the different gender.

2. The water pressure can be controlled by the first control valve 120 and the protrusive length of the movable section 1422 of the spraying tube 142 is altered based on the water pressure variation to adjust the nozzle 1423 spraying position.

3. Because the water-spraying device is constructed with mechanical members, the manufacturing cost is reduced, the leakage problem is solved and the power consumption is reduced such that the product competitiveness is raised. In addition, the water-spraying device can be applied to various toilet seat unit to provide a convenient assembly.

Refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The water-spraying unit of the fourth embodiment is a single spraying tube formation. The water-spraying device includes a base 310, a control valve 320 and a water-spraying unit 330.

The base 310 includes a cold water hole 311, a hot water hole 312 and an outlet 313 wherein the cold water hole 311 and the hot water hole 312 can be respectively linked with the tubes.

The control valve 320 includes a valve core 321, a shaft 322, a water-division plate 323, an aqueduct 324 and an aqueduct 325. The valve core 321 is secured in the base 310 and is similar to the valve core 122 in the first embodiment. The water-division plate 323 is connected with the bottom of the shaft 322. The aqueduct 324 corresponds to the cold water hole 311 and the hot water hole 312, and the aqueduct 325 corresponds to the outlet 313 to control the opening and the flow between the cold water hole 311 and the hot water hole 312.

The water-spraying unit 330 includes a conduit 331 associated with the outlet 313 and a spraying tube 332 associated with the conduit 331 and extended to the toilet seat unit. The spraying tube 332 is the same as the spraying tube in the first embodiment, so there is no more detailed description.

Rotate the shaft 322 of the valve core 321 clockwise or counter-clockwise to rotate the water-division plate 323 to vary the corresponding position between the aqueduct 324, the aqueduct 325, the cold water hole 311, the hot water hole 312 and the outlet 313. The water temperature emitted from the spraying tube 332 is higher when the overlapped opening for the hot water hole 312 is larger than the cold water hole 311. Contrarily, the water temperature emitted from the spraying tube 332 is lower when the overlapped opening for the cold water hole 311 is larger than the hot water hole 312. Moreover, the opening of the outlet 313 affects the flow and the protruding length of the spraying tube 332 is relatively controlled by the flow.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. An adjustable water-spraying device, mounted on a toilet seat unit for users to clean themselves after relieving themselves, comprising: a base, comprising a first space, a second space communicating with the first space, a cold water hole, a hot water hole, a first outlet and a second outlet wherein the cold water hole and the hot water hole communicate with the first space, and the first outlet and the second outlet communicate with the second space; a first control valve, secured in the first space and comprising a knob and a valve core connected with the knob to control the flow between the cold water hole and the hot water hole; a second control valve, secured in the second space to control opening or closing the first outlet and the second outlet; and two water-spraying units, respectively linked with the first outlet and the second outlet and each comprising a conduit and a spraying tube associated with the conduit and extended to the toilet seat unit to spray water to clean the users' anus.
 2. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 1, wherein the first control valve comprises a temperature indication ring.
 3. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 1, wherein the second control valve comprises a shaft movable axially, a pulling block fastened on the shaft and positioned out of the second space, an upper blocking ring encircled in a middle of the shaft and corresponding to the first outlet, and a lower blocking ring encircled in a bottom of the shaft and corresponding to the second outlet.
 4. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 3, wherein the second control valve comprises an elastomeric unit set on the upper blocking ring against a top wall of the second space.
 5. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 1, wherein the water-spraying units have respectively different lengths.
 6. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 1, wherein the spraying tube of each the water-spraying unit comprises an immovable section connected with an end of the conduit, a movable section located in the immovable section and movable axially, and a nozzle with multiple holes connected with the movable section.
 7. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 6, wherein the spraying tube comprises a spring encircled on the movable section.
 8. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 1, further comprising a location seat placed between the toilet seat unit and a toilet seat of the toilet seat unit.
 9. An adjustable water-spraying device, mounted on a toilet seat unit for user to clean after relieving oneself, comprising: a base, comprising a first space, a second space communicating with the first space, a cold water hole, a hot water hole, a first outlet and a second outlet wherein the cold water hole and the hot water hole communicate with the first space, and the first outlet and the second outlet communicate with the second space; a temperature control valve, secured on the first space to control water temperature; a switch valve, secured in the second space and comprising a valve core to control the flow and alter the flow direction of the water; and two water-spraying units, respectively linked with the first outlet and the second outlet and comprising a conduit and a spraying tube associated with the conduit and extended to the toilet seat unit to spray water to clean the users' anus.
 10. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 9, wherein the base comprises two filtering units respectively set in the cold water hole and the hot water hole.
 11. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 9, further comprising a location seat placed between the toilet seat unit and a toilet seat of the toilet seat unit.
 12. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 9, wherein the temperature control valve comprises: a substance, being a hollow cylinder and having a wall; a cold water inlet, defined through the wall of the substance; a hot water inlet, defined through the wall of the substance; a water exit, defined through the wall of the substance; a modified rod, located in the substance pivotally; a bias spring, mounted around the modified rod; a valve, corresponding to the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet; and an adjuster, having an end against to the valve.
 13. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 12, wherein the adjuster is made of shape memory alloy and in the form of the circularity.
 14. An adjustable water-spraying device, mounted on a toilet seat unit for user to clean after relieving oneself, comprising: a base, comprising a cold water hole, a hot water hole and a outlet; at least one control valve, comprising a valve core set in the base to control the opening and flow of the cold water hole and the hot water hole; a water-spraying unit, comprising a conduit linked with the outlet, and a spraying tube associated with the conduit and extended to the toilet seat unit to spray water to clean the users' anus.
 15. The adjustable water-spraying device of claim 14, wherein the spraying tube of the water-spraying unit comprises an immovable section connected with an end of the conduit, a movable section located in the immovable section and movable axially, and a nozzle with holes connected with the movable section. 